Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson was against Alexander Hamilton's proposal for a national bank based on his strict constructionist view of the Constitution, preferring that powers not explicitly granted to the federal government be reserved for the states.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Jefferson opposed Alexander Hamilton's proposal for a national bank primarily due to constitutional and ideological reasons. Jefferson, along with James Madison, believed in a strict construction of the Constitution, which implied that any powers not explicitly granted to the federal government were reserved for the states or the people, as per the Tenth Amendment. They feared that a national bank, which was not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, would grant too much power to the federal government at the expense of the states and potentially threaten economic liberty.
Jefferson's opposition also stemmed from his vision of an agrarian America. He cherished the idea of a nation of yeoman farmers, which contrasted with Hamilton's more industrial and commercial vision. Jefferson believed that Hamilton's financial plans favored the commercial classes in cities, potentially increasing economic inequality and undermining the virtues of agrarian republicanism. He was concerned about the concentration of economic power, which he associated with monarchical systems, in a small number of people's hands.
Furthermore, Jefferson's opposition was consistent over time. The lack of a national bank caused difficulties in funding the War of 1812, yet Jefferson and Madison kept their stance against it due to their principles, revealing their commitment to their ideals despite the practical implications. This decision ultimately highlighted the importance and impacts of their strict constitutional interpretation and concerns for maintaining an agrarian-based virtue in the Republic.